Brakeshoe Bob ⋅ 72 ⋅
I am a retired Railroad Locomotive Engineer. I hired out with the BN in September of 72 as a machinist and went with the Santa Fe in engine service in 1973 as a Locomotive Fireman. I was promoted to Locomotive Engineer in July 1974. I retired in September 2012 after 40 years. During the period I ran the Joint-Line (Denver to Pueblo,CO) and the Interdivisional between Denver and La Junta, CO. I had almost 8 years in management with the Santa Fe and BNSF.
Entries 465
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I may have written this in Open Diary a while back, or thought I did. I was first out in Pueblo, waiting a call. We had just got back from Furr’s, and I called the crew caller to get an update....
The Railroaders luncheon... April 09 2015 in Tales of the Jointed Track
Were still alive. That’s a good thing … Two weeks ago, I attended a memorial service, for a Switchman / Conductor / Brakeman I worked with. Some of the Pueblo people, were there and are here t...
UFIX what does that mean? It was reporting mark ie; UFIX 223579 UFIX was the owner of the car. U= Utility F= Fuels I=INC X= leased Utility Fuels Incorporated..and they leased the cars. These oper...
The VFW. Veterans of Foreign Wars. My Grandfather belonged to the VFW, and well as most of the Terry clan. No they, weren’t disabled, but it also was , a place to drink cheap and maybe have a...
It was a summer afternoon. Warm, no chance of storms, and the sky was bright blue. I was working in the greenhouse, in the back cooler, watering the azalea plants that were kept there. Mr Graul ...
I was taking my youngest home after his shift ended. My cell rang. HMMM Billy, somethings up. “Yeah Bill, what’s up?” “Hey, just found out that Dale Williams passed away, this morning”. ...
Helper Link and weather Palmer Lake,CO in Tales of the Jointed Track
This is beyond my era, but also when I troubleshooted. Meaning that Helper link has really evolved. The weather is that. The tunnel type bridge, is at MP 49 near where, I laid my late Labs ...
Gordon Euell ...Engineer in Tales of the Jointed Track
How do I describe, Gordon Euell, unassuming, quiet, not braggadocios, and he could run an engine. I was fortunate, when I could work with Gordon. If he trusted you, the words of trust was, “say y...
I was working the night rotation doing Locomotive Utilization for the Santa Fe. I was on the “Eastern” half of the railroad. My territory was Chicago to but not including Amarillo, TX. At Emp...
My wife is the brains of this family. I was doing Locomotive Utilization with BNSF at the NOC in North Ft. Texas. She worked with Marsh McLlennan at that time as a Senior VP. She always got t...
Who remembers Sky King on Saturday? I found an episode. Enjoy and remember yer childhood, if yer in this era The olde Brake shoe
For those who are Ranchers and Horseman, the National Western Stock show is a big deal. It is held at the old Denver Coliseum, and National Western complex. It runs for two weeks, starting ab...
The Daily Blab Poop Sheet in Tales of the Jointed Track
This was “my” fun but it served as a report as well. I had the “masque” saved so it was always overwritten. What did it contain? Staged Power for emergency use. Power set out online, due to ...
Tales from the water trailer in Tales of the Jointed Track
These are a few vignettes, I suppose. It was regular day by day railroading. I am not running an engine by choice. My career is winding down, and I am leaving the railroad and BNSF on my ter...
Troubleshooting and the FRA 203 inspection in Tales of the Jointed Track
FRA and CFR rule 203 stated that locomotives will be inspected every calendar day. It was up to the shops, when they go in for SFS ( Sand Fuel Service) to be carded. Out on the road, it is u...
Troubleshooters diary ...what I remember in Tales of the Jointed Track
I was still on the local, was great job. I was asked to become a mentor, due to my electrical and mechanical skills, plus I was a promoted engineer. I didn’t take it? Why?, Saturday and Sunday of...
Pueblo Yard Extra .. Weed spraying and other work in Tales of the Jointed Track
I was called in late August 2008 for a yard extra in Pueblo… There were two of us engineer’s extra board, holding the board by choice. We were still unloading the XCEL Comanche Power plant, at...
Big Lift, Why it is called that. in Tales of the Jointed Track
Big Lift, I worked in and out this terminal, close to 20 years by choice. I held various jobs, from locals, to helpers and even holding the “Q” Trains when they ran out of here in the late 70’s ...
One I vividly remember.. It was in the last 6 months of my career. I was working the night rotation. I got LISS, up and signed onto the email and rest of the Emulators. Was able to settle in ...
My time on the railroad is nearing it’s end. September 5th 2012, will soon be here. I am working the night rotation. I am having a pretty easy night, and the mechanical guy I am working wit...
Sedalia Turn The older days 1978 in Tales of the Jointed Track
I liked the Sedalia Turn, it was picking up and switching out. We usually got a GP-38 or a worn out GP-20. Sometimes.. an old C&S SD-9. Logistics on how the ATSF and the C&S worked t...
I took my son to work. He can’t drive due to Epilepsy and other issues. I think he’s finally getting his head “out”. He stays with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Snow has been in the foreca...
Corridor mentor Job Stuff, Flood reroutes summer 2011 in Tales of the Jointed Track
I got up at 530 am. Cup of coffee, and logged into the mainframe from home. I look in TRNBRO,( train browse) for an inbound look coming into Denver from the south. What is called or going to be ...
Cal Jewel machinist Air Shop Denver 23rd St Roundhouse in Tales of the Jointed Track
I was with Cal that day, why because he was the air man at the shop, and it was my turn to break in with him. Calvin Jewel, he was also the Local Chairman for the Machinist union and oversaw, al...
Sun Kink MP 59.3 single track between Monument and Academy, CO in Tales of the Jointed Track
We are single track now, Between Palmer Lake and Crews. This is CTC operation, mostly Rio Grande track owned till, mid siding, at Kelker, then was Santa Fe track from MP 659.9 (old Santa Fe) cu...
